Device for ventilation of a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A device for ventilating a motor vehicle is proposed, in which an air-quality signal ( 11 ) indicating reduced air quality, and an opening signal ( 22 ) indicating an opened state of a component actuated by an actuating drive ( 19, 20 ), or an opening request, are transmitted to an AND operation ( 15 ) whose output signal ( 24 ) is transmitted to a warning device ( 25, 26 ).

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0001] The present invention is based on a device for ventilating a motor vehicle according to the species defined in the independent claim. From DE-laid-open document 29 41 305, a device for ventilating a motor vehicle is known, which has an air-quality sensor for monitoring the air quality in the interior and exterior region of the motor vehicle. The signal emitted by the air-quality sensor is compared to specified threshold values of the air components to be detected. If a threshold value is exceeded, measures such as the initiation of a recirculation operation instead of a fresh-air operation will be taken.

[0002] From DE-laid-open document 33 24 107, an actuating drive located in a motor vehicle is known, in which the position of a sunroof may be preselected by a setpoint generator.

[0003] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a device for ventilating a motor vehicle, which avoids a deterioration in the air quality inside a motor vehicle to the greatest extent possible.

[0004] This objective is achieved by the features specified in the independent claim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The device according to the present invention has the advantage of avoiding an inappropriate operating state of the device for ventilating the motor vehicle. Such a state occurs, for example, when the air-quality sensor detects poor air quality, and countermeasures, such as switching from fresh-air to recirculation mode, are taken as a result, yet a window or a sunroof, for instance, is open or is to be opened simultaneously. According to the present invention, an air-quality signal supplied by the air-quality sensor, and an opening signal supplied by an actuating drive, are forwarded to an AND operation. If both signals are present simultaneously, a warning device is actuated. After such a warning, the driver is able to initiate appropriate countermeasures, by implementing a closing operation of the actuating drive, for instance.

[0006] Advantageous refinements and embodiments of the device according to the present invention result from the dependent claims.

[0007] An advantageous embodiment provides for the warning device to include a warning light, preferably to be located within the driver's field of vision. According to another advantageous embodiment, the warning device provides an acoustic signal that alerts the driver to a disadvantageous operating state.

[0008] An advantageous further refinement of the device according to the present invention provides that the opening signal be derived from a position signal of the component to be adjusted by the actuating device. Another advantageous embodiment provides that the opening signal be derived from an operating signal of the actuating device, which is generated by an operating device.

[0009] Additional advantageous refinements and embodiments of the device according to the present invention result from the description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] A block diagram of a device for ventilating a motor vehicle according to the present invention is shown in the FIGURE.

[0011] An air-quality sensor 10 provides an air-quality signal 11, which signals that a specified threshold has been exceeded by at least one of the air components to be detected. Air-quality signal 11 is supplied to a recirculation vent 12, a fresh-air tank 13, a catalyzer 14 and an AND operation 15.

[0012] An operating device 16 supplies an operating signal 17 to an actuating-drive control 18. Actuating-drive control 18 controls a sunroof 19 and a window lifter 20. Sunroof control 18 transmits a first signal 21 as opening signal 22 to AND operation 15. Instead of first signal 21, second signal 23, drawn in by the dotted line, is provided as opening signal 22, which is directly derived from operating signal 17. An output signal 24 of AND operation 15 actuates an acoustic warning device 25 and/or an optical warning device 26.

[0013] The device for ventilating a motor vehicle according to the present invention functions as follows:

[0014] Air-quality sensor 10 detects at least one harmful air component in the exterior and/or the interior region of the motor vehicle. The not further depicted sensor element of the air-quality sensor is preferably disposed in an intake duct for the fresh air, to thus detect the air quality of the air in the exterior region. The air-quality sensor generates air-quality signal 11, which is to be a switching signal. Not described further are the signal-sensing system present in air-quality sensor 10, the signal processing as well as the signal evaluation. Air-quality signal 11 is to indicate that at least one detected air component has exceeded a threshold.

[0015] For example, air-quality signal 11 initiates an actuation of recirculation vent 12, which is to be moved from fresh-air position to recirculation position, or vice versa. Furthermore, air-quality signal 11 may initiate the admixture of fresh air into the interior of the motor vehicle, which is held in readiness in fresh-air tank 13. Moreover, within the framework of the recirculation operation, air-quality signal 11 may activate catalyzer 14, which is to implement a purification of the recirculated interior air.

[0016] Air-quality signal 11 is supplied to AND operation 15, which is also provided with opening signal 22.

[0017] Opening signal 22 originates from at least one actuating drive of a movable component of the body shell, which is located in the motor vehicle. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, a sunroof 19 and a window lifter 20 are provided. Atuating drives 19, 20 are actuated by actuation-drive control 18 as a function of operating signal 17, which is generated by operating device 16. Operating device 16 includes simple toggle switches, for instance, by which an opening or closing operation may be initiated. Operating device 16 may also have a position-preselection device, so that operating signal 17 represents a setpoint-position signal instead of a simple switching signal.

[0018] Opening signal 22 is provided by actuating-drive control 18, for instance, which generates opening signal 22 as first signal 21. First signal 21 is preferably provided in the case of actuating drives 19, 20, where the position of the component to be moved is known in actuating-drive control 18. The actual-position signal within actuating-drive control 18 may be directly utilized to provide first signal 21. First signal 21 is generated whenever the actual position does not correspond to the closed state of the component to be moved by actuating drive 19, 20.

[0019] Alternatively, opening signal 22 may be derived from operating signal 17, which in this case becomes second signal 23. Second signal 23 is preferably provided in the case of actuating drives 19, 20 which do not include a position check-back signal, or in which actuating-drive control 18 does not contain the actual position in an otherwise retrievable fashion. In these cases, second signal 23 is to be provided whenever operating device 16 sends out an opening request.

[0020] However, second signal 23 may also be provided in the case of actuating drives 19, 20, where operating signal 17 corresponds to a specified setpoint position of the component actuated by actuating drives 19, 20. In this case, the second signal is to be provided whenever operating signal 17 corresponds to a position not corresponding to the closed state of the actuated component.

[0021] AND operation 15 provides output signal 24 in those cases where both air-quality signal 11 and also opening signal 22 satisfy the AND conditions, i.e., are present simultaneously. Output signal 24, therefore, signals an operating state of the ventilation device in which poor air quality is detected, on the one hand, and in which an opened body component, for instance an opened sunroof 19 and/or an opened window 20, is present, on the other hand. Output signal 24 also occurs when, on the one hand, air-quality signal 11 is present and an operator specifies an opening request via operating device 16.

[0022] Output signal 24 is preferably transmitted to optical warning device 26, which is located, for instance, as illuminated display in the dashboard of the motor vehicle within the driver's field of vision. In addition, or as an alternative, acoustical warning device 25 may be provided. An active warning device 25, 26 notifies the driver, or the operator of the motor vehicle of an operating state of the ventilation device, which is not expedient in all situations, due to the drop in air quality. On the basis of the warning, the individual driver or operator may decide whether to initiate a closing operation via operating device 16 of actuating device 19, 20. Instead of the manual intervention in actuating drives 19, 20, an independent intervention may be provided to the extent that this is permissible and/or desirable. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for ventilating a motor vehicle, having an air-quality sensor (10) providing an air-quality signal (11) indicating reduced air quality, the motor vehicle comprising an actuating drive such as a sunroof (19) and/or a window lifter (20), wherein the actuating drive (19, 20) provides an opening signal (22), an AND operation (15) is provided to which the air-quality and the opening signal (11, 22) are transmitted, and the output signal (24) of the AND operation (15) actuates a warning device (25, 26).
 2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein an optical warning device (26), preferably an illuminated display in the field of vision of the driver of the motor vehicle, is realized as warning device.
 3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the warning device is realized as an acoustic warning device (25).
 4. The device as recited in one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the opening signal (22) is derived from an operating signal (17), which specifies a setpoint position of the component actuated by the actuating drive (19, 20) that does not correspond to the closed position.
 5. The device as recited in one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the opening signal (22) is derived from an operating signal (17), which initiates an opening operation of the component actuated by the actuating drive (19, 20).
 6. The device as recited in one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the opening signal (22) corresponds to an actual position, retrievable from an actuating-drive control, of the component actuated by the actuating drive (19, 20), which is not in the closed position. 